NSW inquiry to reopen public hearings

Published: 29 August 2013

The NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into matters relating to the Police investigation of certain child sexual abuse allegations in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastlewill reopen its public hearings next month to hear evidence from two senior figures within the Church, reports The Australian.

They are Fr Brian Lucas, General Secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, and Monsignor John Usher, Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.

Fr Lucas has previously told the inquiry the two men met about 35 alleged pedophile priests, convincing them to resign.

In his written evidence to the inquiry, Fr Lucas said records of these meetings, which took place during the early 1990s, would be in the possession of the Archdiocese of Sydney.